The Bradford West byelection: Labour has a lot to learn from George Galloway's victory

I agree with Andrew Rawnsley's assertion that George Galloway's byelection victory in Bradford was mainly due to the repudiation of the three main political parties ("It's two fingers to Westminster, but don't expect a revolution", Comment). However, this result also represents a clear rejection of their rightwing neoliberal policies.

There is strong evidence that the public is moving to the left. The SNP gained control of the Scottish Parliament as its policies are to the left of Labour. The Welsh Labour government was elected due to the enactment of socialist policies such as free prescriptions, free bus travel for the elderly and financial support for working-class students. Plaid Cymru has recently elected the most left-wing leader arguably in its history in Leanne Wood.

In all these elections, it appears that younger people who are suffering the most economically are open to socialist ideas. However, people also look for leadership, courage and conviction, hence George Galloway's victory.

Ed Miliband needs to show such leadership by pursing necessary policies such as progressively higher rates of income tax for the wealthy, full employment and to renationalise both the railways and the NHS in England. This would be a start to re-engage with the electorate and restore the Labour party's natural position in British politics.

Bryan Davies

Cwmbran

South Wales

In Nick Cohen's perceptive and satirical article on George Galloway ("Galloway and Livingstone: twins in so many ways", Comment), he comments that Galloway believes, or claims to believe, that those who failed to vote for him would have to answer to Allah on the day of judgment.

I see elsewhere that Galloway claims to have won "by the grace of God". This puts me in mind of Pascal's Wager: we have no way of knowing whether Galloway is Allah's Chosen One or not, but hadn't we better go along with it just in case?

Richard Slater

Kendal

Cumbria

No matter how much Nick Cohen personally despises Galloway (and clearly he does), he should be able to apply an analysis that would be consistent if applied to other politicians running for election in similar circumstances.

However, his animosity is clearly affecting his judgment, quoting Galloway appealing to Muslim voters as though there is something more sinister about him trying to get votes than anyone else. He also fails to acknowledge that Galloway also won votes from plenty of non-Muslim voters in Bradford.

What's more, his accusation of "communalism" appears to be well wide of the mark in the context of the Bradford byelection. By most accounts I have read, it was Labour that was relying on communal ties to deliver it votes, rather than talking about the political issues of the day, a strategy that has been used by Labour in many other areas, and one that failed to deliver in this case.

If Ken Livingstone was to learn anything from this, it is that he shouldn't take for granted voters from ethnic minorities who have traditionally voted Labour.

Joe Hartney

London SE10

Whatever we may think of George Galloway, he is right about the essentially consensual nature of British politics. Who, for example, will have the courage and foresight to set a direction for the removal of religion from schools and at least a discussion about the undue influence of religion in our social and political institutions? Not Cameron, Clegg or Miliband to be sure. Roll on some real choices.